Vacuum-cleaner.



H. SMALL.

VACUUM CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16. 1912.

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VACUUM CLEANER. APPLICATION FILED JULY 16. 1 9|2.

1,240,155. I PatentedSept. 11,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

n srars .anrrr ri HOWARD SMALL, OF JENKINTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO J AMES H. BELL, OF

' PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

VACUUM-CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 11, 1917.

Application filed July 16, 1912. Serial No. 709,640.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD SMALL, of Jenkintown, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum-Cleaners, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates more particularly to that type of cleaner wherein a vacuum is created in the vacuum chamber by a plurality of pumps which are motor-operated.

An object of the invention is to provide a construction of vacuum cleaner which is durable and which is simple to make, and wherein the motor is disposed relative to the pumping mechanism so that the vibration incident to the movement of the parts is reduced to a minimum, and wherein the pumping mechanism is located on opposite sides of the motor and is so connected with the vacuum chamber as to operate independently thereon.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention, Figure I, is a vertical sectional view through a vacuum cleaner embodying my improvements.

Fig. 11, is aplan view thereof.

In carrying out the invention, my improved vacuum cleaner consists of a supporting base on which is mounted the easing for the vacuum chamber and the pumping mechanism. Said chamber is divided by a cross partition into a vacuum chamber and an exhaust chamber. The vacuum chamber is provided with the usual dust separating bag or bags, while the exhaust chamber is provided with a motor and pumps which are reciprocated thereby. These pumps are located one above and the other below the motor, and the upper pumpis spaced from the lower ring-shaped bracket, by tubes 5. These tubes as shown in Fig. 11, are four in number. Bolts 6, pass through the tubes and through the ring brackets into the base 1, so as to firmly clamp each of the ring-brackets to the base, and the tubes serve as spacing members for these brackets.

The lower ring bracket 2, is formed with a passage 7, which leads through the flange 3, and communicates with the central passage through the tube 5. The upper ring bracket 4, is also formed with a passage 8, for each tube 5. The tubes are set in suitable packings so that a substantially closed passage or chamber is formed leading from the upper face of the upper ring bracket 4, to the inner portion of the lower ring bracket 2. Said upper ring bracket 4:, is formed with an upwardly projecting flange 9, on which seats a casing 10, which is pro vided with a seating flange 11. This casing is secured to the bracket 1, by suitable thumb bolts 12, which engage lugs formed on the parts which are clamped together.

The casing 10, at its upper end, is closed by a cover 13, which is also seated on a flange 14, secured to the casing 10, and held clamped thereto by thumb bolts 15. A proper packing ring is placed between the cover and the flange of the casing, and also between the lower. flange of the casing and the seat on the ring bracket 4, so that when these parts are properly clamped together, a vacuum chamber may be formed withinthe casing 10. Centrally of the cover is a screware secured to the member 19, and project I upwardly therefrom. A perforated plate 22, is carried by the posts and serves to prevent the dust bag from being drawn through the opening 20. This opening 20, is normally closed by a valve which consists of a perforated plate 23, and a perforated flexible disk 24, of leather or the like, which is sesufliciently to allow the air to pass through the perforations in the plate and disk. When however, air 15 forced agamst the flexible disk, it will be seated firmly against the perforated plate and prevent the air from passing upwardly through the perforated plate. 1

The ring backet 2, is also formed with an inwardly projecting member 26, which is formed with a central opening 27. This inwardly projecting member 26, is spaced from the supporting base 1, and forms an intake chamber 28, which is connected through the passages 7, to the tubes 5, and the passages 8, with the vacuum chamber in the casing 10. The opening 27, through the member 26, is controlled by a valve consisting of a lower perforated plate 29, and aflexible perforated disk 30, secured thereto by a rivet 31. This valve is similar to the valve above described, and operates in precisely the same manner.

A cylindrical casing 32, ext-ends from the flange of the ring bracket 4, to the flange 3, of the ring bracket 2, and incloses the space between the same, thus forming an exhaust chamber. This casing does not fit tightly the lower flange 3, and therefore, the air may pass from the exhaust chamber to the atmosphere underneath the lower edge of the casing. l/Vithin this exhaust chamber is a motor 33, which is carried by a suitable bridge bracket 34, mounted on the ring bracket 3, carried by the supporting base. This bridge bracket is arch-shaped, and extends from the flange of the ring bracket at one side, to the flange at the other side, and gives sufflcient room underneath the bridge bracket for the lower pumping mechanism. This lower pumping mechanism consists of a flexible diaphragm 35, which is clamped tothe flange of the ring bracket 2, by a ring 36, which is bolted to the ring bracket. Centrally of the flexible diaphragm 35, is a ring 37 which is clamped to the diaphragm and carries upwardly projecting lugs 38. The diaphragm inside of the ring 37, is perforated and rests on a perforated metal disk 39, which is clamped to the ring. These perforations are staggered, and as the flexible portion of the diaphragm is above the rigid perforated disk, air may pass upwardly through the perforated disk, but is prevented from moving downwardly therethrough when said diaphragm is flexed upwardly.

Located on the central shaft 40, of the motor, are eccentrics 41, and 42, with which cooperate eccentric straps 43, and these eccentric straps are in turn pivoted to the lugs 38. The space between the inwardly pro j ecting member 36, of the lower bracket ring,

operating with the eccentrics 49, on the main shaft of the motor. This upper diaphragm 45, is perforated and a rigid perforated metal disk 50, is secured to the ring. 46. The perforations in the diaphragm and in the metal disk are staggered, and as the flexible portion of the diaphragm is below the metal disk, air may pass downwardly through the metal disk, but is prevented from passing upwardly therethrough. This upper diaphragm 45, together with the inwardly projecting. member 19, on the ring. bracket 4, form an upper pumping chamber 51.

The operation of my device is as follows: The eccentrics on the main shaft of the motor are oppositely set, and therefore, as the motor shaft rotates, theflexible diaphragms 35, and 45, will be simultaneously moved toward each other, and simultaneously movedfrom away eachother. As these diaphragms are drawn toward each other, the openings through the diaphragms will be closed and a suction stroke will be produced in each of the pumping chambers 44, and 51. The upper pumping. chamber 51, is connected directly with the vacuum chamber in the casing 10, and the air will be drawn from the vacuum chamber through the opening 20, into the pump chamber 51. Simultaneously with the passing of the airinto the pump chamber 51, air will alsobe drawn from the chamber'28, and from the tubes 5, through. the passages 8, from the vacuum chamber in the casing. 10, into the pump chamber.

On a movement of the diaphragrns in the opposite directions, the valves separating the pump chambers from the vacuum chamber will be closed and the air in thcpump chain-- bers will bev discharged through. the perforated diaphragms in and about the motor. This discharge of the air in and about the motor aids in cooling the motor.- Further more, it will be noted. that inasmuch as the vibrating parts of the pumps are moved in opposite directions, and also in the same direction simultaneously, the usual vibration on the motor shaft is-reduced to a minimum. Then again, by this separate connection of the pump chambers to the vacuum chamber, I have provided a construction wherein both the pump chambers are equally drawing upon the vacuum chamber independently, andtherefore, the pumping suction in each chamber will be substantiallv the same, and the pump forces in one pump will offset andcounterbalanee the pumping forces inthe other pump. In other words,-

there is always an equal and like strain on the motor shaft, which will tend to hold it centrally located in its bearings, and prevent all undue vibration thereof. Furthermore, by this independent connection of the pumping mechanisms to the vacuum chambers, the strain on the valves controlling each pumping chamber is substantially uniform and is much less than where all the air from the vacuum chamber is taken from a single valve-controlled opening.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made, without departing from the spirit ofthe invention as set forth in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

A vacuum cleaner including in combina tion, a supporting base, a ring bracket carried by the supporting base and having a member spaced therefrom to form a chamber, a second ring bracket spaced from the first ring bracket, tubes connecting said brackets, and passages extending through the brackets and registering with the tubes whereby the said chamber is connected with the upper face of the upper ring bracket, a casing mounted on said upper ring bracket, and forming a vacuum chamber, said upper ring bracket having a central opening therethrough, a flexible diaphragm carried by each ring bracket, means for vibrating said diaphragms so as to simultaneously draw in and expel air, valves formed centrally in said diaphragms, and valves for forming and controlling a pumping chamber for each diaphragm.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this fifteenth day of July, 1912.

HOWARD SMALL.

Witnesses:

AGNES REID, E. L. FULLERTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

